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Pope Leo, newly forceful global voice, heads to Angola on Africa tour

Pope Leo ​sets off on Saturday for Angola, where he is expected to address the exploitation ‌of natural resources in the oil-rich country on the third leg of his four-nation Africa tour, during which he has taken on a new forceful speaking style. Leo, who has been attacked repeatedly by President Donald Trump this week after the pope criticised ​the Iran war, will arrive from Cameroon, where on Thursday he said the world was "being ravaged ​by a handful of tyrants". The first US pope was due to arrive in ⁠Luanda, Angola's capital, around 3pm (1400 GMT). Before leaving Cameroon, Leo celebrated a farewell Mass in ​the capital, Yaounde, urging participants not to lose hope despite the challenges faced by the Central African ​country, which include a simmering conflict in its two anglophone regions that has killed thousands. "In moments when we seem to be sinking, overcome by adverse forces, when everything appears bleak ... Jesus is with us always, stronger than any pow...
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Turkey says Iran gas pipeline contract nearing expiry, no talks yet on extension

Turkey's long-term contract for importing natural gas from Iran is due to expire in the coming months, and the two countries could hold talks on a possible extension, though no negotiations are underway yet, Turkey's energy minister said on Saturday. The agreement, due to expire in July, provides for the delivery of 9.6 billion cubic metres of gas a year, but actual flows have often fallen short. Turkey imported 7.6 bcm from Iran last year, accounting for 13% of total gas imports. Regulator data show the pipeline last hit the contracted volume in 2022. "According to our forecast, we might need this gas pipeline or the gas flow from Iran for the security of supply of Turkey. There is no ongoing negotiation right now. I think they are busy with so many other things. But we might sit and discuss a potential extension," Alparslan Bayraktar told reporters on the sidelines of a diplomacy forum in the southern Turkish province of Antalya. Read: Strait of Hormuz closed again over US blockade, says Iranian military command "But we haven't started a negotiation during the current circumstances in the region," Bayraktar said, referring to the US-Israeli war on Iran. Bayraktar also said Turkey was seeking to diversify natural gas supplies, including through Russian liquefied natural gas. Local media reported this month that Ankara had issued a long-term licence for LNG imports from Russia to pipeline operator BOTAS. Regulator records show BOTAS was issued a 10-year import licence, so far granted only for countries with which Turkey has long-term LNG supply contracts, including Algeria and Oman. Asked about LNG imports, Bayraktar said Turkey had not started importing LNG from Russia. Turkey imports Russian gas via BlueStream and TurkStream pipelines, which together account for about 35% of its overall gas mix.

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